Iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications: an updated patent review (2015–2021)

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) hold the edges of great magnetic properties and fine nanoparticle characteristics, making them an attractive therapeutic agent. In the past seven years, more in-depth investigations were devoted to the intrinsic structure, magnetic properties, and biological effects of IONPs, expanding the range of their therapeutic application scenes.

Areas covered

This review focuses on the development of IONPs for biomedical applications from the angle of the patent literature reported during the period 2015–2021.

Expert opinion

While the magnetic properties of IONPs have been extensively explored, the precise control of IONP behavior through external magnetic fields remains a challenge. Further digging into the biological effects of IONPs will facilitate the development of IONP-based immune therapies. Long-term reliable safety evaluations are of necessity and significance to promote the process of clinical translation.

KEYWORDS:

• Iron oxide nanoparticles
• drug delivery
• MRI
• theranostics
• treatment

Article highlights

• Iron oxide nanoparticles are a kind of versatile magnetic nanoparticles with remarkable potential for therapeutic purposes.

• Patents concerning iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications disclosed from 2015 to 2021 were collected and reviewed.

• The MRI and drug delivery functions of IONP systems have been expanded and integrated to form more developed theranostic systems.

• Further therapeutic potential is to be excavated in the intrinsic physicochemical properties and biological effects of IONPs.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (Grant No: 22001025) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2022CDJXY-025).